Anyone heard of the “Theory Of Four” chord method

Does anyone know of something called the “Theory Of Four” chord method? I did searches but nothing by that name is found. I’m assuming this method applies to guitars and all fretted instruments.

Thanks,

Ed T.

While I don't know about what theory exactly, I am pretty sure it is related to the circle of fifths. Anticlockwise it is the circle of fourths.
https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/20167/circle-of-fourths-in-jazz

Jarmo_S said:

While I don't know about what theory exactly, I am pretty sure it is related to the circle of fifths. Anticlockwise it is the circle of fourths.
https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/20167/circle-of-fourths-in-jazz

Click to expand...

I think you are right. I didn’t make that connection until you mentioned it. Thanks,

Ed

might it refer to the sequence of chord forms? A (form) moved up a fret becomes Bb, moved up another fret becomes B;
then the C (form) moved up a fret becomes a C# or Db, then moved up one more fret becomes a D; and the F (form)
moved up becomes an F# or Gb, and moved up one more becomes a G... oh, wait, that's only 3 shapes instead of 4.

maybe it refers to something else

I hope this was helpful anyway,

OOPs, I forgot the progression to Eb and E, but you can figure it out

Theory of Four

I just attended a one hour class at taught by UncleZac on the "Theory of Four." This is a system he learned from his uncle and captured in his "ultimate chord inversion chart for ukulele which you can find on the magic fluke website https://www.magicfluke.com/product-p/zacultimatebari.htm (this is the baritone chart).

The idea is that for any key type (major, minor, etc.) there are four distinct visual shapes which represent chord inversions up the neck. So there are four "c" chord shapes (inversions) and as you go up by half steps (c#, d, e flat...) the same four shapes are repeated a half step up the fretboard.

Really cool system and the charts are definitely worth getting. And if you can a class from him, it's really valuable. I'm waiting for the glow of the-baritone-is-the-best-instrument-you-can-play to wear off. His enthusiasm is infectious.

Lisa

Uncle Rod Higuchi said:

might it refer to the sequence of chord forms? A (form) moved up a fret becomes Bb, moved up another fret becomes B;
then the C (form) moved up a fret becomes a C# or Db, then moved up one more fret becomes a D; and the F (form)
moved up becomes an F# or Gb, and moved up one more becomes a G... oh, wait, that's only 3 shapes instead of 4.

maybe it refers to something else

I hope this was helpful anyway,

OOPs, I forgot the progression to Eb and E, but you can figure it out

Click to expand...